Dónal Lunny: key obituary facts
Is Dónal Lunny dead? Yes. Dónal Lunny died on October 23, 2026, at age 79.
Cause of death: Dónal Lunny's cause of death was reported as Cancer.
What was Dónal Lunny known for?
He was an Irish musician and record producer.
More about Dónal Lunny
Born: 10 March 1947.
Place of birth: Tullamore.
Gender: male.
Occupation: composer, music executive, guitarist, record producer, singer, music arranger.
Nationality: Ireland.
Education: Newbridge College, National College of Art and Design.
Awards: honorary doctorate of Trinity College, Dublin.
Children: Shane O'Connor Lunny.
Career began: 1966.
Also known as: Donal Lunny.
Genres: Irish traditional music, Celtic, folk, rock.
Occupations: Musician, songwriter, record producer.
Instruments: Vocals, guitar, bouzouki, keyboards, bodhrán.
Years active: 1966–present.
Dónal Lunny, an Irish folk musician and producer, died of cancer on October 23, 2026, aged 79.
Born in Tullamore, County Offaly, on March 10, 1947, he moved with his family to Newbridge, County Kildare, when he was five. He attended Newbridge College and later the National College of Art and Design.
As a teenager, Lunny played in a trio called Rakes of Kildare with his elder brother Frank and Christy Moore; they performed mainly in pubs and had an Easter Monday engagement in Newbridge in 1966. His career began that year, and he became a founding member of Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts, as well as Coolfin, Mozaik, LAPD and Usher’s Island. Across more than five decades, he was at the forefront of the renaissance of Irish traditional music. He played guitar and bouzouki, along with keyboards and bodhrán, and also worked as a singer, composer, arranger and record producer. In 2025, he received the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Trinity College Dublin.